Three injured peacekeepers recovering at AMISOM hospital in Somalia

Mogadishu, Somalia (PANA) - Three soldiers of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) who were injured in a terrorist attack on Friday in Middle Shabelle region are reportedly recuperating, the AU peacekeeping force said in a statement on Sunday.

According to the statement, the Deputy Head of AMISOM, Simon Mulongo, on Saturday visited the soldiers at AMISOM Level II Hospital.

The injured soldiers were part of a convoy escorting civilian trucks transporting humanitarian supplies from Mogadishu to Jowhar in the areas of HirShabelle.

“The soldiers managed to repulse the terrorists, who had planted improvised explosive devices (IED) on the road, which damaged an armoured personnel carrier and three civilian trucks,” the statement said.

Speaking at the hospital, Mr. Mulongo, who is also the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia, praised the soldiers for their bravery in repulsing the attackers and wished them quick recovery.

“We came to see the progress of our soldiers who got injured in the ambush by the terrorists. As you could see, we have three of them who sustained some injuries, so we came to check on their progress,” he explained.

Immediately after the attack, a quick recovery unit was dispatched to the scene to carry out a mop-up and recovery operation.

The DSRCC, who was accompanied by AMISOM Deputy Force Commander In Charge of Operations and Plans, Maj.-Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, and AMISOM Military Chief of Staff, Brig.-Gen. Kittila Bulti Tadesse, held a meeting with the hospital management and later toured the facility to assess its condition.

Mr. Mulongo said the Mission will help address the challenges facing the hospital to improve services offered to patients.

“The Generals here have taken note of these deficiencies and have promised to follow them up through the system and we as the Mission headquarters will support that, so as to see some changes. We must repair, maintain and equip a fully functioning Level II health facility as required by the UN standards,” he stated.
-0- PANA AR/VAO 4March2018